The Airbus 321 of Russia’s Kogalymavia airline that crashed in Egypt on October 31, claiming 224 lives, almost all of them Russian nationals, was the result of a terrorist attack.

Acting on President Vladimir Putin’s order, the Foreign Ministry hereby informs all of its partners abroad that Russia’s relevant agencies have mounted a search for the perpetrators. The search will continue until all persons involved in this crime are identified, found and held accountable wherever they are. In this connection, the Russian Federation calls on all states, organisations and individuals, all of its friends and partners, to assist in this effort to ensure that the appropriate punishment is meted out to those responsible.

We are regarding this barbaric attack on our citizens in the context of the series of bloody terrorist attacks that have been perpetrated recently in Paris, Beirut, Iraq, Ankara and Egypt.

Under these circumstances, the Russian Federation will act in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which provides for a Member State’s right to self-defence.

We welcome the growing realisation by our partners of the need to consolidate the international community’s efforts to suppress the global terrorist threat. This is truly an objective that is central for all, requiring priority attention and, most importantly, action without any linkages or preconditions.

We urge theUN Security Councilto finalise without delay the draft resolution on the formation of a broad antiterrorist front, based on the norms and principles of international law and provisions of the UN Charter, which was submitted by the Russian Federation on September 30.